A 14-year-old running for governor is the first teen to get on Vermont’s general election ballot
Written by Site Hub on March 28, 2026
Source: AP News Published: March 27, 2026
Dean Roy, a 14-year-old freshman at Stowe High School in Vermont, will be the first candidate for governor under age 18 to appear on the state’s general election ballot in November. Roy, who worked as a legislative page at the Vermont Statehouse last year, secured his spot by creating his own third party, the Freedom and Unity party. Vermont’s constitution does not set a minimum age requirement for governor, unlike nearly all other states, which typically require candidates to be at least 30. Roy said he does not expect to win but wants to start a movement to get more young people involved in government. Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican, said he supports youth involvement in politics but questioned whether someone so young is ready for the responsibilities of running a state. A Vermont Law and Graduate School professor noted that while the constitution may technically allow it, voters are unlikely to elect a teenager.
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